Fountain toothbrush



Patented Feb. 5, 1.92.9.

CLAUDE B. GOLLINS, F ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

room-AIN TooTHanUsH.

Application med august 1o, 1927. semai- No. 212,046.`

The present invention relates to tooth brushes and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel type of fountain tooth brush embodying features whereby a dentifrice carried bytherbrush may, be fed directly to the bristles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain tooth brush embodying a supporting frame for renewably receiving dentifrice containers of novel construction embodying an arrangement whereby the containers may be secured in the supporting frame in a position for allowing thedentifrice to be delivered through a closed pas-V sageway to the bristles of the brush head.

A further object of the invention is to pro-V vide an improved fountain tooth brush ein-- bodying a novel type 'of control means whereby anv desired quantity of thel dentifrice may be Vfed directly to the bristles'.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a fountain tooth brush embodying a hollow, slotted handle for'receiving a specifically formed collapsible dentifrice container in a manner whereby the container ma be readily compressed for feeding the dentl-v frice to the bristles of the brush. l

'A still further object 'of the invention is to provide a fountain tooth brush embodying a removable brush head adapted to be snapped into position upon its carrier member and having an opening provided in the base thereof registering with the outlet end of a channel or duct through which the dentifrice is to be conveyed to the bristles of the brush head.

A still further object of the invention ref sides in the provision of an lmproved type of brush head having the bristles thereof so ari ranged as to provide a channel like 'end formation for the bristles for allowing proper distribution ofthe dentifrice being fed to the bristles Without liability of the dentifrice falling from the bristles.

Other objects and advantages of vthe in vention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken vin connection wlth theV accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and m which drawing:

Figure 1 1s a central longitudinal section through an improved type of fountain tooth brush constructed 1n accordancewith this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the handle portion for the improved brush.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the forward end of the supporting frame and brush head showing the brush head removed from the supporting frame, and the valve control means for controlling the 'flow of dentifrice to the brush head.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line..

4 4 of Figure 1. v i

. Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the inner side of the forwardend of the supporting frame and showing the valve means in a closed position as illustrated in Figure. Figure 6 lis a plan view of the inner side of the base plate of the brush head.

. Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the brush head' in position and the valve means in an open position for allowing Figure 8 is a plan view looking at the brush head. from the outer side, showing the brush head in .position within the supporting frame and the location of the outletY way provided in the base of the brush head. A,

Figure 9 is anenlarged transverse 'section online 9-9of Figure 1 and showing the the dentifrice to be fed to 'the 75 -bristles of the brush head.

locking ring for fastening the dentifrice container within the supporting frame.

Figure 10 is a view part in side elevation and part insection of the locking ring and showing the'internal spiral groove for forc-A ing thenozzle of the dentifrice container into position within the way'leading to the brush head.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing the special. formation of the nozzle ofthe dentifrice container and showing a cap as appliedthereto for closing the containers while being vended. p

Referring to the drawing in detail, and

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates generally a supporting frame of novel formation, B a

' brush head of novel construction for detach# able connection with the frame A, C a dentifrice container from which the dentifrice may be fed to the brush head B, and D means for controlling the flow lot' dentifrice to the brush head.

Referring first to the supporting frame A. and which may either be formed from metal or a moulded composition such as-celluloid Y or the like, the same embodies a hollow hantion of the length of the handle-and may have irregularly formed edges as illustrated in Figure 2 for better circumferential gri ping of the container C and also providing a etter hand grip during use of the brush. The rear end of the handle portion 5 is tapered off at opposite sides as shown in Figure 2 and fiattened as at `7, and which attened portion may be provided with an aperture 8 for allowing the tooth brush to be hung on a suit-- able support. The inner edge of the iattened portion 7 is provided with an inwardly opening L shaped locking groove 9 for a pur oseJ to be subsequently explained. Exten ing from the forward reduced end of the handle portion 5 is a neck or shank portion 10, and formed at the forward end of the neck 10 is a substantially flat brush head seat 11 preferably arranged with its longitudinal axis in angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion 5.

' This brush head seat 11 may be of any preferred shape, and in the example illustrated embodies a rectangular shaped seat portion 12 provided with longitudinal side flanges' 13 which preferably terminate short of the outer end of the seat portion as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, and a yieldable hooki shaped end flange 14 provided at its free edge wlth a notch 15. These side and end anges 13 and. 14 respectively form an `elongated socket 16, and provided at the inner end of i way 18 at its opening intothe hollow handle. 5 1s tapered as at 19, while the outer end of the way termmates in a marginally ribbed the socket and spaced tov opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the brush head seat, are recesses or pockets 17 which co-act with theyieldable end flange 14 for removably retaimng the brush head B within the socket 16.

Extending through the neck 10 from the hollow' handlel 5 and into the seat portion 12 to a point substantially midway of itsends,

is a way or duct 18 which serves for conveying the dentifrice to the brush head B. This outlet port 20 opening intoV the socket 16. Thls marginally ribbed'outlet port 20 is preferably inclined upwardly and rearwardly as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The dentifrice container C is rovided with a conical shaped nozzle 21 which is adapted to be inserted in the tapering end portion 19 of the Way 18 when the container is disposed within the hollow handle 5 through the longitudinally formed slot 6. Carried by the taperlng nozzle 21 and projecting radially therefrom at a point intermediate the ends of the nozzle, is a pin or lug 22 which 'is adapted to coact with the s lit rotatable locking ring 23 for forcing t e conical shaped nozzle 21 into binding 4surface contact with the tapering'way ortion 19 for preventing I escape of the dentlfrice at the connection of the nozzle 21 with the neck portion 10. This C locking ring 23 isL revolubly mounted in a circumferentially extending groove provided adjacent the rear end of the neck portion 10A for preventing longitudinal movement of the spiral groove 24 and whereupon by rotating the ring 23 the pin 22 is moved inwardly along the slot 26 for drawing the tapered nozzle 21 into firm contact with the walls of thc tapering way portion 19. Thus it will be seen that the ring 23 and .pin 22 serve for drawin the discharge end of the container into lea proof engagement within the way 18. The transversely .extending locking groove 9 which is provided'at the inner edge of the flattened end portion 0f ,the handle 5, is intended to receive the iange of an L shaped sealing strip or clamp 9 serving to close the rear end of the container C. This sealing strip 9 when-connected in the groove 9 serves for preventing circumferential move- Inent o f the container within the handle porvtion Iand also retains the container in an ex- This anchoring means for the rear end lof the container also serves for preventing twisting strain upon the pin 22. By so havin the side edges of the rear portion of the andle 5 tapered off as in Figure 2, it will be seen that the ends of the :sealing stri 9 will project to each side of the liattened Ihandle portion 7 in a manner -whereby the' container may be easily withdrawn when empty, by merely gripping the projecting portions of the seal- -mgzstrip eferring now to the improved and novel typeV of removable brush head B, the same embodies a base plate 28 of' substantially flat elongated formation preferably .having straight side walls 29 and a medially buloed end wall 30 provided with a centrally disposed notch 31. Projecting from the inner end of the base plate 28 are triangular shaped projections 32 which when the brush head is inserted into the socket 16 are adapted Cil tending groove 36 and ribs of the outlet'port 20 form a. leak proof joint'between the ways 18 and 35. It may here be well to state that the outlet port 20 and outlet way 35 are preferably of polygonal shape in cross section for leadin the dentifrice to the bristles in ribbon li e formation. The brush head may readily be inserted into the socket 16 by first placing the projections 32 in the recesses 17 and then pressingr the outer an gularlyv formed end into position inwardly of the hook shaped end flange '14 of "the brush head seat and in which position the brush head is rigidly but releasably held with the outlet way aligning with the outlet port 20 as illustrated in Figure 7. When desiring to remove the brush head, a pointed instrument may be inserted into the allgning notches'15 and 31 and by a slight prying action theouterf end of the base plate may readily be sprung free of the hook shaped tiange i4.

Referring now to the specific arrangement of the tufts of bristles carried by the base plate 28, the same are arranged in rows longitudinally of the base plate and in the example shown are arranged to provide outer longitudinal rows 35 and an inner or medialrow of bristles 36', the medial longitudinal row of bristles embodying inner and outer sets 'of bristles 37 and 38 respectively. The outer rows of bristles 35 are of greater length at -the intermediate portions of the rows and grow shorter toward each end of the rows as illustrated in Figure 1, with the bristles of greatest length disposed in transverse align- .ment with the outlet way 35. The outer set of bristles 38 of the medial row of bristles 36 are-V then the bristles 35l arranged at each sidref` e.

the innerv end of the set of bristles 38. inner set of bristles 37 are also shorter than the bristles 35 adjacent the jet 34, and which' particular end formation of the rows of bris-A tles 35 and 36 will form a longitudinally extending channel 39 into which the dentifrice v when being ejected through the outlet wav 35 passes and is held against accidental dropping from the bristles by the longer bristles of the outer rows 35. By arranging the medial row of bristles 36 in longitudinal align.- nient with the projecting jet 34, a suitable opening is provided'between the inner andv outer sets of bristles 37 and 38 for allowing the dentifrice to readily ass throu h the bristles to the longitudinal c annel 39' ormed by the particular arrangement of the end formation of the bristles.

Referring now to the control means D for control of the dentifrice from the container C to the bristles 36', the same embodies a spring pressed slide valve of novel construction and which valve means serves for shutting off communication between the way 18 and` outlet way 35provided in the base plate 28. The control means I) embodies a valve plate 40 which is slidably mounted in a shallow recess 41 provided in the seat ortion 12 to the rear of the marginally ribbc outlet' ort 20, Aand connected with the rear edge of the y plate 40 is a valve rod or stem 42 extendingin a shallow slot 43 provided in the seat portion 12 of the rear of the recess 41. Provided at the forward end of the stem portion 10 at its juncture with the brush head seat 11, is an outwardly opening slotv 44 which extends in longitudinal alignment with the slot 43, and

which'slot 44 is provided adjacent its rearV i end and to'each side of the slot with keeperz lugs 45. Mounted inthe forward portion of the neck or shank 10 at the rear end' of they slot 44, is a sprino housing or casing 46 having an opening 4?? at its outer end aligning with the slot 44 and' into which opening the rear outwardly offset end of the valve stem slidably fits. Mounted within the casing 46 is an expansion coil spring 48 having a socket like fixture 49 carried by its forward end and into which socket the vrear end. of the valve stem 42 fits in a manner as lillustrated in Figure 7. This spring 48 acts ornormally urg eline, that a suitable guideway as at 50 in Figure -7 is provided for the valve plate 40.

Carried by the valve stem 42 and projecting outwardly through the slot 44, is an arm 51 and mounted at the outer end of the arm 51 is a suitable button or lhead 52 having a lip 53 provided at its inner end for engaging be hind the keeper lugs 45 for releasably vretaining the slide valve in an open position as illustrated in Figure 7. The button or head ,52 is preferably mounted 'in ashallow pocket 54 which extends longitudinally of and to each side-of the outer end of the slot 44.

It is preferred that the spring housing 46 together with its spring 48 be positioned in place during moulding of the supporting frame A, and when assembling the unitary V structure including the valve plate 40, stem 42, arm 51 and button 52, 'the'rear offset end of the stem 42 is first inserted through the opening'47 with'its end seating in the socket 49 and moved rearwardly a sufficient distance for allowing the forward edge of the valve plate 40 to be positioned inthe recess 41 in alignment with the rear open end of the valve guide 50. By having theslots 43 and 44 aligning and communicating with one another will allow for the valve stem to be readily inserted intoI an operative position within the slot. The valve assembly is of course placed in posi- Ption with the brush head removed from the brush head seat 11. 1

In use of the improved fountain tooth brush,.the operator merely places his thumb 1,0 upon the button 52 and slides the same rearwardly until the lip 53 engages behind the ylugs 45 and in which position the valve plate 40 is slid rearwardly opening the port 18 to )the port 35. The-operator then releases the 1,5 grip upon the button 52 and by pressing with i his thumb upon' the container C at the slot 6, the dentifrice will be forced through the way 18, and outlet way 35 into the cliannel'39 formed by the bristles of the brush head. After a sufficient quantity of dentifrice had been delivered to the brush head,lthe operator frees the button from the keeper lugs 45 and allows the spring 48 to move the valve plate forwardly for cutting oif communication bctween the ways 18 and 35.

It will of course be apparent that the brush head B may be provided with bristles having end formations differing from that as set forth, but itis preferred that the end forma- A tion of the bristles be so formed as to provide a longitudinally extending channel at the outer ends of the bristles for receiving the dentifrice being ejected through the outlet way 35. Y

:i5 Referring particularly to Figure 11, and

wherein is illustrated the specific nozzle construction of the containers in which a special dentifrice is to be vended, itwill be observed that a. threaded portion 50 is formed at the 4ica-juncture of the nozzle 21 and the body portion of the container for "threaded reception .of a closure cap 51. This closure cap 51 aside from serving as means for retaining the nozzle 21 'in a sanitary condition, also serves to .protect the protruding locking pin 22 from being broken during transporting and vend- I ing of the dentifrice containers.- With a novellyl constructed container as shown, it will be seen that refills of dentifrice containers for-application into the hollow handle portion 5 0f the holder must necessarily be of a construction as illustrated for proper positioning in thehandle.

From the foregoing description it4 will be 55 apparent that an improved and novel type of fountain tooth brush has been provided embodying a supporting frame of novel construction for removably receiving dentifrice containers, with means for effectively lock- 50 ing the container in position so that a leak proof joint is provided between the outlet of the container and a way leading to the brush head of the device, a valve control means for the dentifrice embodying novel features of ashandle and a shank portion, a brush headseat sembly whereby the control means may be 05 readily and easily associated with the sup- Iporting frame, and a novel type of removable brush head having the bristles thereof s0 arranged as to provide a channel shaped receiving space for the dentifrice being fed to the bristles from the container.

Changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made tothe specific form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. l

I claim:

1. In a fountain tooth brush a hollow handle having a shank portion at one end thereof for supporting a brush head, said shank having a passageway therethrough forming communication between the handle and brush head and provided at its end adjacent the handle with a tapering portion, a dentifrice con- 'tainer having a tapering nozzle fitting in the tapering way portion and provided with`a laterally extending lug, and a split-locking ring encircling-the shank at the tapering way portion and having an internal spirally formedgroove engageable with said lugfor drawing the nozzle into firm Contact with the tapering way portion. e

2. In a fountain tooth brush including a carried by the forward end of the shank por- 'vtion embodying a seat portion having side anges and a-yieldable hook shaped end ange providing an elongated socket, recesses pro- Y vided in the wall at thev inner end of the socket, and a brush head embodying a base plate having beveled shaped proj ections at its inner end for fitting in said recesses and having a medially bulged end wall to be snapped into position inwardly of the hook shaped end flange.

l3. In a fountain tooth brush including a handle anda shank portion, a brush head seat carried by the forward end of the shank portion and provided with a socket, saidl shank portion being provided with a dentifrice way having a marginally ribbed outlet port opening in said socket, valve means for closing said outlet port, and a brush head including a base provided'with an outlet way having a groove encircling its inner end for receiving the marginal ribs of said outlet port.

' 4. 'In a fountain tooth brush including a shank portion anda brush head seat having a communicating way extending therethrough, a valve plate movable in a recess in the brush head seat for opening and closing of said way, a spring mountedV in a housing in the shank portion, a valve stem connected with the valve plate and having its rear endeng'ageable with said spring whereby thel valve plate is normally urged to a closing Vposition over said `ivay,'an operating button connected with the valve stem between said spring and valve plate, and'releasable means for retaining the valve plate out of closing relation with said y In a fountain tooth brush, a brush head seat embodying a seat portion and side and end retaining flanges, a shank portion extending from one end of the scat portion and provided with a dentifrice way terminating in an outlet port opening in the seat portion, said seat and shank portion having aligning out wardly opening slots, a valve rod mounted in said aligning slot for longitudinal movement therein, a valve plate carried by the forward end of the rod for closing said outlet port', spring means acting upon'the rear end of the valve rod for normally urging the valve plate to a closed position over the outlet port, a but- Aton connected with the valve rod at the slot in the shank portion, a projection. provided at the inner side of the-button and releasably engageable with lugs provided in the shank portion for retaining the valve plate in an open position, and a brush headremovablv mounted between the anges of the brush brush head, said hollow handle at its rear end l having an L-shaped locking groove extending transversely of the handle, a container for dentifrice removably fitting in the hollow handle with its outlet nozzle opening into'said pasageway, and beingclosed atits rear end by an L-shaped sealing strip for engaging in said locklng groove, vand lockmg means carried by said shank portion and engageablewith said nozzle for drawing the -nozzle into binding engagement with said passageway.

7. In a dentifrice container for fountain tooth brushes, the combination ofa collapsible body, and a tapering discharge nozzle carried by one end of the bodyand provided intermediate its end with a laterally projecting locking pin.

CLAUDE R.' COLLINS. 

